The team

Meet the people of the Resilience Center

​Anne-Laura van Harmelen

Anne-Laura’s research aims to understand how we can increase resilience in young people with a history of adverse early-life experiences. Her work helps to inform prevention and intervention strategies aimed at reducing mental health and behavioral problems in at-risk young people. Anne-Laura has a Ph.D. in Psychology from Leiden University and is now Professor of Brain Safety and Resilience at Leiden University in the Institute of Education and Child Studies. Outside the lab, Anne-Laura is working hard to perfect her handstand skills.

More about Anne-Laura van Harmelen ››

Elizabeth Buimer

Elizabeth is a neuroscientist. Her research focuses on the interaction between the social environment and brain development as predictors of vulnerability and resilience in adolescents. Elizabeth obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychobiology and a Research Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences - Neurobiology both from the University of Amsterdam.

In October 2023 she defended her PhD research at Utrecht University. In her PhD research she examines the relationship between childhood experiences and MRI brain measures in 1000 children who participated in the YOUth cohort study. She currently works as an assistant professor at Leiden University at the Institute of Educational Sciences. She is actively involved in the THRIVE study into mechanisms of resilience after childhood adversity. She also participates in the interdisciplinary program 'Social resilience and security' and the SSH domain 'Resilience in youth'. Elizabeth believes it is important to involve the general public in her research. As an example, she summarized her PhD thesis for young people, in collaboration with an illustrator and a youth panel. 

More about Elizabeth Buimer ››

​Maximilian König

Maximilian is a cognitive neuroscientist who studies how social support can help young people to maintain or regain their mental health following acute stress exposure. His PhD research focuses on adolescents and young adults who have experienced childhood adversity (e.g., abuse, neglect, bullying, or severe poverty) to understand the underlying psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of what is called social stress buffering.

Maximilian received his BSc in Psychology at Goethe University Frankfurt and his MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London. Before moving to the Netherlands, he conducted research at New York University and the University of Oxford to investigate the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying age-related changes in learning and decision-making. Outside the lab, Maximilian enjoys engaging in science outreach, climbing, and exploring the beautiful city of Leiden.

More about ​Maximilian König ››

Pauline Wessels

Pauline received her Bachelor's in Psychology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, after which she completed her Research Master's degree in Psychology (Cognitive Neuroscience) at Leiden University. After her graduation, she started working as a research assistant for the THRIVE study. Pauline is interested in sleep and memory research, but also enjoys projects that have a clear practical impact and those that aim to improve the lives of individuals that suffer from mental health problems. Outside of the lab, Pauline enjoys playing rugby and knitting.

More about Pauline Wessels ››

Tara Peris

Tara Peris is a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In addition to these roles, she serves as Associate Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Co-Director of the Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program.

Tara's research and clinical interests are in developmental psychopathology, with a focus on evidence-based assessment and treatment of child and adolescent anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. She has a particular interest in developing strategies to optimize outcome for difficult-to-treat cases of these conditions, and her work integrates methods from clinical psychology, affective neuroscience, and cognitive science to understand illness course, treatment response, and possible targets for novel treatment development.

More about Tara Peris ››